35. SARAH
TWO WEEKS LATER
Today’s the day.
For the first time in my life, I’ll show my artwork for others to see and judge. It’s exciting but also…terrifying.
Putting myself out there and being vulnerable is not something I would normally do. It was something my mom used to do all the time, though. And I remember attending a few of her shows as a kid, wandering around in awe at everything she created, hoping to be like her someday. And that’s why I’m doing this today.
Because I want Lily to know that she can be or do whatever she sets her mind to do. I want to be an example for her, but most importantly, I want to be a goddamn good mom to her.
Just like my mom was to me.
“Are you sure you’re okay to come tonight?” I ask Paul, who’s sitting beside me in the back seat of the SUV. “I don’t want you ripping your stitches or making things worse on yourself just to see my paintings.”
The poor man has been bedridden for the past two weeks, itching to get out of the house and do something. Anything.
His hand envelops mine, resting on my thigh. “I wouldn’t miss your first show for the world. Not even a gunshot wound to my chest will stop me.” He winks.
I roll my eyes, chuckling.
“Besides, the fold-up wheelchair is in the trunk, so I won’t have to do anything except sit and be pushed around by my chauffeur for the night, Ray.”
Ray does a salute in the rearview mirror, making me laugh.
“Nate and Natalie will be showing up at the opening, and Jason and Vanessa will be heading over right after she gets out of work,” Paul confirms, checking his phone. “Mom is devastated she couldn’t make it, but she had to get Kevin back to school today. His school was ready to kick him out if he didn’t return.” He shakes his head, but he and I both know that the only reason Kevin didn’t return to school on time was because he wanted to stay by Paul’s side, ensuring he was okay. “She’d like to take us both to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate, though.”
I smile in understanding. “Your mom sent me a gorgeous bouquet of some of the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen this morning. I don’t ever want to know how much she spent on them. And Kevin left me a gift bag filled with art supplies before he left for school.” I shrug. “I think your family kind of likes me.”
He chuckles. “They don’t like you. They love you. And don’t forget, they’re your family now, too.”
“My family,” I repeat softly.
The sight of the art gallery appears to my right, and my stomach plummets.
“We’re here,” Ray announces, pulling up before the entrance where several people stand, bundled up as snow falls around them, waiting to be let inside.
A shaky sigh escapes me as I reach for my door handle, but Paul’s grip on my other hand stops me. My hair sways over my shoulder as I quickly turn to face him.
“No matter what happens tonight, I’m so proud of you, baby girl. You did it.” He smiles, lifting my hand to his lips, and presses a kiss.
The tip of my nose tingles. Tears try to escape, but I won’t let them. Not tonight. Hormones be damned. “Thank you, Paul.”
We all leave the car and enter the ample but quaint space. It’s dimly lit, with individual spotlights on each piece throughout the room. Servers walk around offering refreshments and appetizers.
It’s a bit surreal.
“What do you think so far?” Paul asks.
I nod. “It feels weird.”
“A good weird?”
“Yeah.” I glance down at him, something I’m not used to having to do while he sits in the wheelchair beside me. “A good weird.”
“Ah, Sarah!” Mrs. Blossom strides toward me, looking elegant in a deep blue chiffon wrap dress. “They just finished setting up your pieces.” She smiles proudly. “They are stunning. Would you like to come see them before we get started?”
I inhale a deep breath and nod.
As we follow Mrs. Blossom down a hall, nerves start gnawing at my insides.
What if Paul doesn’t like my pieces?
What if no one likes my pieces?
What if the reviews are horrible?
What if—
“Sarah,” Paul breathes, his lips parted and eyes misting. “You made these?”
I was so lost inside my head that I didn’t realize we had come to a stop. When I look before me, I see my paintings.
My painting of my mom and dad beside me as translucent shadows watching over me.
My painting of my new family: Paul, Mrs. Weston, Ray, Kevin, Tina, and Lucas.
My painting of my hand and Paul’s hand clasped together with a lily on top representing our Lily.
My painting of a field of vibrant flowers, which I used every color possible to create.
And finally, my painting of the photo I found of me, Paul’s dad, and Teddy.
That one is my favorite.
Anxiety overwhelms me as everyone remains silent.
“Well…” I fidget with a piece of my hair. “What…do you think?’
Ray stares at the pieces, blinking a few times while appearing in shock.
“Are they that bad?” I ask, wrapping my arms around my stomach as I curl in on myself. Paul grunts, struggling to stand from his chair. “Paul, what are you doing? You shouldn’t—”
My words cut off as his lips land hard on mine in an all-consuming kiss, stealing the breath from my lungs. His hands embrace the sides of my jaw in a possessive hold while my fingers clutch onto his black button-down shirt so I don’t drop to the floor from my weak knees.
His lips brush against mine as he pulls away, pressing our foreheads together. “They are truly breathtaking, Sarah. Absolutely beautiful.”
“Really?” I ask, unsure.
He smiles, wiping a tear from his cheek. “Really.”
“These are magnificent, Sarah,” Ray murmurs as I help Paul back onto his seat.
“Thank you, Ray.”
“And just look at all that color,” Mrs. Blossom remarks behind me. “To think this girl wouldn’t use anything but black and white paint on the first day of class.”
“I guess I just needed some inspiration,” I say, gazing at Paul.
She looks between us with a warm smile. “I’d say you found it.” A woman at the front of the gallery calls for her, so she excuses herself, leaving the three of us.
“Ray, can you take a picture of me and Sarah in front of her work?”
“Sure.” Ray takes Paul’s phone and waits for us to position ourselves. One minute, I’m standing next to Paul, and the next minute, Paul pulls me down on his lap.
“Paul, you’ll hurt yourself!” I try to get up, twisting and rotating, but he grips me in place.
“I was shot in my chest, not my legs,” he counters. “Now sit still; you’re making things very hard for me if you know what I’m saying.”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Ray pinches the bridge of his nose.
We both look at Ray and break out into a fit of laughter as he takes our photo. After, he hands Paul his phone and tells him he’ll be right back.
“Which one is your favorite?” I ask. Paul spins his chair, so we both face the pieces.
“I honestly couldn’t pick. They each represent something so important. They’re each a piece of you, which means I love them all equally.” He kisses me softly, stroking the inside of my thigh with his thumb, his fingers on my lower back moving in leisurely circles, sending shivers down my back.
“I should probably get up before someone sees us like this. They’ll be opening the doors any minute,” I breathe, not making any effort to move.
“Let them see us,” he whispers. “Besides, we haven’t had sex in weeks; let me enjoy touching you.”
“The doctor said you shouldn’t do anything that makes you too excited,” I pant as his fingers inch up my leg and under my dress.
“Is that why you’ve been wearing pants to bed?” he asks, his nose tracing across my jaw.
“I didn’t want to tempt you,” I reply, my fingers gripping his shoulder as his thumb slowly drags across the center of my underwear.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
“Baby girl, you could wear ten winter coats, and I would still find you tempting.” His gaze is smoldering, focusing on where his hand resides under my dress.
A familiar voice rings out behind us. “There you two are! We’ve been looking for you.”
Paul promptly removes his hand, pulling on the hem of my dress as I straighten my spine and throw on a smile.
“Natalie!” I jump up from Paul’s lap to embrace Natalie. “Thank you for coming.”
“This is so exciting! I’ve never been to an art show before. There are so many people here,” she exclaims. We part as her eyes turn, taking in my artwork. “Are these your pieces?”
I nod, biting my bottom lip.
“They’re beautiful!” She wraps her arms around me again.
Nate walks up beside Paul, lightly grabbing his shoulder. “These are amazing, Sarah.”
I thank them both, observing all the people who are coming this way.
Looking down at Paul, I say, “Do you think we could wait in the main room? I don’t want to be standing here while people judge them.”
“I think you’d be pleasantly surprised by what people have to say,” he replies. “But I understand. Let’s go get some food.”
Nate begins to push Paul’s chair, and as we walk out of the room, passing a group of people, Paul points to the paintings and announces, “My girl made that.”
My cheeks heat up as he winks at me, Nate continuing to roll him down the hallway.
Natalie playfully bumps my shoulder with hers. “You found a good one, Sarah.”
Yes, I definitely did.
As we sit at a corner table, I look around the room. “Where’d Ray go?” I ask Paul.
He glances around. “He should be back any minute. He just, umm, had to make a call.”
Just as I place a piece of bruschetta in my mouth, I hear my name called.
“Ms. Fleur!”
I spin in my seat, seeing a young woman quickly striding toward the table. “I have amazing news for you! An anonymous buyer just bought all of your pieces!” she exclaims, holding paperwork in her hand.
I nearly choke on my food. “W-what?”
She nods enthusiastically. “He said he’s having a house built for his family and thought these pieces would be the finishing touches needed.”
I blink a couple of times, taking in her words.
Someone bought all of my pieces.
“Once the show is finished, the pieces will be sent to the buyer, so if you need any last-minute photos of them, I would suggest doing it before then. But your pieces have been all everyone has been talking about. They love them!” She flashes a beautiful smile, handing me a business card and the receipt for my work. “We would love to have you back, so if you ever have any more pieces you’d like to show, please don’t hesitate to call. Congratulations!” She walks away, leaving me reeling from the news.
“Wow…I can’t believe…” I’m at a loss for words.
“That’s incredible!” Natalie squeezes an arm around my shoulders. “Your first sale!”
“Congratulations, Sarah!” Nate lifts his drink in the air.
While in a haze, Paul lifts me off my seat and pulls me onto his lap. “Congratulations, baby girl.”
“People like my pieces,” I murmur.
“No.” He shakes his head, gripping my chin. “They love your pieces.”
A smile blooms on my face. “I did it. I actually did it.”
“You did.” He pushes a piece of hair behind my ear, letting his fingers linger. “There’s nothing you can’t do, Sarah.”
I rest my hand on my stomach, thinking about how drastically my life has changed in the past six months.
How beautifully colorful my life has become.
“He was right,” I murmur.
Paul arches a brow. “Who was right?”
“Your dad.” I smile. “He said to me, ‘One day, everything will fall into place as it was meant to be.’” I gaze into Paul’s chocolate brown eyes, softening before me. “When I found out I was pregnant, I thought my life was over when it was only just beginning. Because of one night, I gained so much more than I could have ever imagined.” My chest squeezes as warmth spreads through me when I say, “Everything fell into place as it was meant to be.”